The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child ("UNCRC"), adopted by the UN General Assembly on November 20, 1989, is essentially a bill of rights for children incorporating welfare rights, protection rights and social justice rights. It has the distinction of being the world's most ratified Convention (the USA and Somalia are the only countries not to have ratified it), indicating a high level of consensus among the international community in relation to the rights contained within it. Ireland signed the UNCRC on September 30, 1990 and ratified it, without reservation, nearly two years later on September 21, 1992. While this did not incorporate the Convention into Irish law,2 upon ratification the State entered into a binding obligation in international law to ensure its terms are honoured. It may be seen as a minimum threshold standard with which domestic legislation must comply and "the yardstick by which the Government, voluntary agencies and individuals measure their actions and efforts in protecting the welfare of children".